Trash fees going up in Gardner

GARDNER - Not thrilled with the decision but seeing it as a best option, the City Council Monday night approved the first of two votes required to raise trash collection fees by $20.

The council voted to send to first printing an ordinance change increasing the annual solid waste collection fee from $180 to $200.

City Councilor Edward Garvel opposed the increase, saying he felt the City Council was misled three years ago when the city issued trash containers to collect trash and recyclables rather than requiring the purchase of bags. He said he was told there would be no built-in increases when the trash containers were issued.

Councilor Patrick Gerry, a member of the council Finance Committee, said the council was not misled about the potential for increased costs for trash disposal.

"It has to do with the price of recyclables in the Chinese market," he said, adding that if the city health director was able to predict Chinese markets he would make millions.

Councilor Ronald F. Cormier added that the increase is necessary to pay the cost of solid waste disposal.

"We can ignore this and hope the trash will go away, but it won't," he said.

Councilor Christine Wilson supported the increase but is concerned that enough is not being done to enforce the rules and charge residents extra if they overfill their containers.

"If they were a little more strict, wouldn't that keep the price down," she asked.

Kim Dembrosky echoed Ms. Wilson's remarks, saying people playing by the rules are being penalized by those who are not. She said she is not happy with the increase but supports it because she believes the city had no choice.

If the increase is approved to a second printing at the next meeting it will go into effect at the start of the fiscal year, July 1.